21-fluor-steroids and method of making same



Unite zl-FLvoko-srnaorns METHOD OF MAKING SAME Frank H. Lincoln, Jr., and William P. Schneider, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 1 No Drawing. Application May 4, 1956 SerialNo. 582,666

Claims. (Cl. 260-39745) The present invention relates to novel steroid compounds and is more particularly concerned with 11,8,17adihYdroxy-Zl-fluoro-1-,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione, 17a-hydroxy-2l-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,1 I,ZO-trione and a process for the production thereof.

The compounds and the process of the instant invention may be illustratively represented by the formulae:

ontosozona o=o l----0H CHzF CH F

in}; '11B,17u,21 trihydroxy 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (1- dehyd'ro-hydrocortisone) (I) with methanesulfonyl chloride to obtain the 21-rnethanesulfonate of 11B,17a,21- trihydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione (II); treating the thus obtained 2l methanesulfonate (II) with an alkali than io'didefe. g'.; sodium or potassium iodide in acetone States Patent 9 ice to obtain 11 d,17a-dihydr0xy-21-iodo-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione (III); and treating the thus obtained 21-iodo compound (III) with silver fluoride in ace'tonitrilesolution to obtain the desired llfi,17a-dihydroxy-21 fluoro- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (IV). Oxidation of 1lfi,17bzdihydroxy-2l-fluoro-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (IV) with chromic acid (chromic anhydride or an alkali metal dichromate) yields 17a-hydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,11,20-trione (V). 7

It is an objectof the present invention to provide 11,8,17a-dihydroxy-21 fli1oro-1,4-pregnadiene 3,20-dione and 170c-hYdl'OXY-2 l-fluoro-l ,4-pregnadiene-3, 1 1,20-trioi1e. It is another object of the instant invention to provide the intermediates for this reaction such as the ZI-methanesult'onate of l dehydrocort'isone, 11B, 17a-dihydroxy-2liodo-lA-pregnadie'ne-ll,20-di6ne and the corresponding ll-keto analogues, It is another object of the instant invention to provide a process for the production of these 1l-bxygenated-lhuhydroxy 2'1 fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene, 3,20-diones and the intermediates therefore. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The novel compounds, 113,17a-dih droxy21-fluorel,4'-p're'gnadiene 3,ZO diQne and 1 7whydroxy-21-fluoro- 1,4-pregnadine-3j11,20trione are compounds having anti inflammatory, glucocorticoid and anti-arthritic activity without producing salt retention. These compounds are therefore highly suitable in the treatment or arthritic,

patients or for the treatment of inflammatory conditions of skin, nose, ear or eye in form of ointments of drops in the manner known in the art. Having no salt retention the compounds are particularly desirable and superior to many of the other adrenocortical hormones.

The starting material for the present process is 1- dehydro hydro'cortisone (1 I18, 1711,21-trihydroxy 1;4 pregnadiene-3,20-dione) In carrying out the'process of the present invention 11p,17a,2l-trihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dioue is reacted with an excess of methanesulfonyl chloride usually at lbw temperature between minus ten and plus ten degrees in a solvent such as, for'exarnple, pyridine, benzene, toluene, hexane, or the like, with pyridine preferred. The time of reaction is usually between one 'half hour and six hours. When the reaction is terminated the reaction mixture is reacted with excess of Water and'the precipifated product collected on filter. The thuspro'duced 2'1- methanesulfonate 'of 1lB,l7a,21-trihydroxy-1,4 pregnadiene-3,20'-dione can be purified by recrystallization from 'oiganic solvents such as acetone, "methanol, Skellysolve B hexan'es, heptanes, or the like, or any mixtures thereof. For the purpose "of the subsequent reactions,however, it is not necessary to purify the thus-obtained 21-methanesulfonate of 1113,17a,2l'-trihydroxy 1;4-pregnadiene-3,20- 'dione (ZI-rnethanesuIfonate of l-dehydro-hydro'co'rtisene).

The conversion of the rnethanesul fonate of l-dehydiohydrbcortisone (II) to the 21-10510 compound, 1113, dihydroxy-2l-iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III), is carried out by reacting the ZI-methaneSuIfOna'teoI 1- dehydro-hydr'ocortisone with an alkali metal iodide such as sodium or potassium iodide in a solvent, preferably acetone. The acetone solution is generally heatedt'o 'reflux for a period of a few minutes to one hour, however, the reaction is operative at lower temperatures between twenty degrees and the refluxing temperature of the acetone solution using, of course, at the lower temperatures a correspondingly longer reaction time. At the end of the reaction, free iodine is eliminated by the addition of a thiosulfate such as sodium or potassium thiosulfate. Simultaneous addition of excess of Water precipitates the product, 11 8,l7a-dihydroxy-21-iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which is recovered from the reaction mixture by filtration. The 11 8,17a-dihydroxy-21-iodo- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione is washed with water and air dried, and thus can be utilized for the subsequent reaction or alternatively can be first purified by recrystallization from organic solvents such as acetone, hexanes, heptanes, methanol, ethanol, benzene, or the like.

The thus obtained 21-iodo compound, 11/3,17a-dihydroxy-2l-iodo-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione, dissolved in a suitable solvent such as acetonitrile, hexanes, heptanes, benzene, tertiary butyl alcohol, or the like with acetonitrile preferred, is reacted with silver fluoride. The reaction is usually carried out under exclusion of light and with stirring. The preferred form of silver fluoride used is a fifty percent aqueous silver fluoride solution rather than solid silver fluoride. The reaction is preferably carried out between forty to sixty degrees centigrade, however, lower or higher temperatures between ten and about 75 degrees centigrade are operative. Since the silver iodide produced in the reaction forms a molecular compound with silver fluoride, two moles of silver fluoride must be used per mole of steroid as the minimum amount necessary for theoretical recovery. However, it is preferred to use an even greater amount, between ten to fifty percent over and above the calculated amount, in order to obtain higher yields. The silver fluoride is usually added in portions over a period of time. The

reaction time ranges usually from one half to six hours.

-diene-3,11,20-trione the 21-fluoro-116,17a-dihydroxy-1,

4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione is oxidized preferably with chromic anhydride or sodium or potassium dichromate in acetic acid solution. Small amounts of water should be present in the acetic acid in order to facilitate the reaction. The amount of chromic anhydride or sodium dichromate necessary is from one to one and one half times the theoretical calculated amount. However larger amounts are operative. The temperature of the reaction is between zero degrees and fifty degrees, with a temperature about room temperature, twenty to thirty degrees centigrade, preferred. The time of reaction is between one half hour and six hours depending upon the temperature selected. At the end of the oxidation reaction, the excess of oxidant is usually destroyed by adding an excess of alcohol such as methanol or ethanol. The reaction mixture is thereupon poured into excess of water and the product extracted with a water-immiscible solvent such as methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride,

chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, hepsodium or potassium iodide in a suitable solvent such as acetone to obtain the corresponding 17u-hydr0xy-21- iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione and reacting the thus obtained 21-iodo compound with silver fluoride in acetonitrile to obtain 17a-hydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,1 1,20-trione.

treating the The extracts are The following examples are illustrative of the process and products of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLE 1 1 -dehydrohydrocortis0ne 21 -methanesulfonate (21 -methanesulfonate of 1 1,8,1 7u,21-trihydr0xy-1 ,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-a'i0ne) A solution of five grams (13.8 millimoles) of l-dehydro-hydrocortisone, dissolved in 35 milliliters of pyridine, was cooled to Zero degrees and thereto was added 1.5 milliliters (19 millimoles) of methanesulfonyl chloride under stirring. The stirring was continued for a period of two hours at zero degree centigrade whereafter 200 milliliters of water was added. The precipitated product was collected on a filter, washed with water, and air-dried to give 5.8 grams (96 percent) of a white powder. Recrystallization of part of the white powder from acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes gave flutfy white needles of l-dehydro-hydrocortisone ZI-methanesulfonate of melting point 193 to 194 degrees centigrade (decomposition).

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O S: C, 60.25; H, 6.90; S, 7.31. Found: C, 60.49; H, 7.10; S, 7.07.

EXAMPLE' 2 115,1 7a-dihydr0xy-21 -i0d0-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione A solution of 5.2 grams (18.8 millimoles) of crude ZI-methanesulfonate of 1l5,17a,21-trihydroxy-1,4pregnadiene-3,20-dione in milliliters of boiling acetone was treated with a solution of 5.2 grams of sodium iodide in fifty milliliters of acetone. The mixture was stirred at the boiling point for a period of twelve minutes, and thereupon concentrated to approximately one half volume. After cooling to room temperature, a cold solution of 0.75 gram of sodium thiosulfate in 250 milliliters of water was added. The mixture was further chilled to a temperature of about five degrees and then filtered. The ivory-colored, crystalline product, 11fi,17a-dihydroxy-2liodo-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione was washed with water and air dried. The yield of 11B,17m-dihydroxy-21-iodo- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione was 5.54 grams (97 percent), melting point 158 to 161 degrees centigrade with decomposition.

Analysis.Calcd. for C21H27O4IZ I, 26.99. Found: I, 26.50.

EXAMPLE 3 113,1 7 ct-dihydroxy-2I -flu0ro-1 ,4-pregnizdiene-3,20-dione A solution of four grams (8.45 millimoles) of 11p, 17a-dihydroxy-2l-iodo-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione in 800 milliliters of acetonitrile (practical grade) was prepared by heating to the boiling point. After cooling to fifty degrees Centigrade the solution was protected from light and three milliliters of fifty percent aqueous solution of silver fluoride was added under stirring. The solution became cloudy and brown colored. The addition of a little water did not redissolve the insoluble material. Under continued stirring at a temperature between 40 to 45 degrees centigrade, additional silver fluoride solution was added in two five-milliliter portions, thirty minutes apart. Heating and stirring was then continued for a period of two hours. The brown mixture was thereupon filtered through a bed of Celite diatomaceous earth and the filtrate evaporated at reduced pressure from a bath at a temperature of fifty degrees centigrade. The brown residue was thoroughly extracted with four one-hundredmilliliter portions of warm methylene chloride, the methylene chloride extracts concentrated to approximately 250 milliliter volume and chromatographed over grams of Florisil synthetic magnesium silicate. Fractions of 200 milliliters were taken as follows:

TABLE I Fractions Solvent 1-5 Hexane-acetone 10. 6-15 Hexane-acetone 875:125. 16-25 Hexane-acetone 85:15. 26 Hexane-acetone 80:20. 27 Hexane-acetone 80:20. 28 Acetone 100 percent.

The hexane mixture used was Skellysolve B hexanes. Fractions 17 to 26 were combined and evaporated to give 634 milligrams of crystals which after recrystallization from acetone-Skellysolve B (yield 480 milligrams) melted at 242 to 245 degrees centigrade. Recrystallization from the same solvents gave fine prisms of 11,8,17a-dihydroxy-2l-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione of melting point 244 to 246 degrees centigrade and rotation [al plus 96 degrees in percent ethanol.

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O F: C, 69.59; H, 7.51; F, 5.24. Found: C, 69.71; H, 7.64; F. 4.59.

The acetone strip fraction 28 contained 1.30 grams of material which was rechromatographed to give additionally 260 milligrams of 11 3,17a-dihydroxy-2l-fluoro-1,4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione. A total of 0.74 gram (24.2 percent) of 11B,17a-dihydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadienc 3,20-dione was obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 1 7a-hydr0xy-21-flu0r0-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-tri0ne A solution was prepared containing 200 milligrams of 113,170: dihydroxy 21 fluoro 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20- dione and 55 milligrams of chromic anhydride in ten milliliters of acetic acid and one milliliter of water. This solution was allowed to stand at room temperature, about 25 degrees centigrade, for a period of three hours while occassionally being shaken. To this mixture was then added one milliliter of methanol, Whereafter the total mixture was poured into milliliters of water. The thus obtained aqueous solution was extracted with four fifty-milliliter portions of methylene chloride, the methylene chloride extracts were Washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, evaporated and the residue three times recrystallized from a mixture of Skellysolve B hexanes and acetone to give pure 17a-hydroxy-21- fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione. Infrared anaylsis in chloroform confirmed the proposed structure.

In the same manner as shown in Example 1, substituting the 11 8,17u,2l-trihydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione by 17a,2l-dihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione gave the 21-methanesulfonate of l-dehydrocortisone; substituting the 21-methanesulfonate of l-dehydro-hydrocor- 6 tisone in Example 2 with 21-methanesulfonate of l-dehydrocortisone 17 (1,2l-dihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,1 1,- 20-trione 21-methanesulfonate) yielded 17a-hydroxy-21- iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione; reacting the thus obtained 17a hydroxy 21 iodo 1,4 pregnadiene 3,- 11,20-trione with silver fluoride as shown in Example 3 yielded the corresponding 17 ot-hydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,1l,20-trione.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of 115,17u dihydroxy 21 fluoro 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20-dione and 17a-hydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,11,20-trione.

2. 115,17 dihydroxy 21 fluoro 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20 dione.

3. 17a hydroxy 21 fluoro 1,4 pregnadiene 3,11- 20-trione.

4. A process for the production of IMAM-dihydroxy- 2l-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which comprises: esterifying llfi,l7o,2l trihydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,- 20-dione with methanesulfonyl chloride to obtain the 21- methanesulfonate of 1l5,17a-21-trihydroxy-1,4,pregnadiene-3,20-dione, treating the thus obtained 21-methanesulfonate of 11B,170:,21-trihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20- dione with an alkali metal iodide in acetone to obtain 11,8,17oc-dihydroxy 21 iodo 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20- dione and treating the thus obtained iodo compound with silver fluoride in acetonitrile to obtain 1113,17oc-dihYdI'OXY- 2 l-fluoro-1,4,pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione.

5. A process for the production of 17a-hydroxy-21- fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione which comprises: treating 11fl,17oc,21 trihydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20- dione with methanesulfonyl chloride to obtain the corre- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione; treating the thus obtained 21- methanesulfonate of 11,8,Nail-trihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione with an alkali-metal iodide in acetone solution to obtain 11B,17a-dihydroxy-21-iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione; treating the thus produced 115,170:- dihydroxy-Zl-iodo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione with silver fluoride in acetonitrile solution to obtain 1113,17oc-dihY- droxy-2l-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione, and oxidizing with chromic acid the thus obtained 116,17a-dihydroxy- 2l-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione to obtain c-hydroxy-21-fluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,1 1,20-trione.

No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate of Correction I Patent No. 2,862,936 December 2, 1958 Frank H. Lincoln, Jr., et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 19, for pregnadiene, read pregnadiene--; column 6, lines 89 and 40, for corre-l,t-pregnadiene read -corresponding 21-methanesulfonate of llfi,l7a,2l-trihydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of June 1959.

[SEAL] Attest: KARL H. AXLINE, ROBERT C. WATSON,

Attestz'ng Oyfioer. Commissioner of Patents. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 11B,17A - DIHYDOXY - 21 - FLUORO -1,4 - PREGNADIENE 3,20-DIONE AND 17A-HYDROXY-21-FLUORO-1,4-PREGANDIENE3,11,20-TRIONE. 